Newsweek reports that Robert Gates will be sworn in as the new Defense secretary “in the new year,” a good two weeks after his confirmation. Why? “One source close to the White House, who spoke anonymously in order to keep his job, believes President George W. Bush has decided to wait until after Dec. 29 ‘as a personal gesture to Rumsfeld.’” On that date Rumsfeld would become the longest-serving Defense secretary.
Boo…hiss….what – so he can get his medal of honor? Get that thug outta here quick! If I were W I wouldn’t dicker around with Gates either because there’s a lot of stuff out there about his cherry picking intel during the Iran Contra that almost got Gates indicted…..he’s not a “clean candidate” for the job either.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:25 pmOn that date Rumsfeld would become the longest-serving Defense secretary.
This will be Rumsfeld’s only claim to fame after a failed tenure. This, again shows, that for this administration it’s all about “how it looks”, not about whatever they do is effective. A change is needed TODAY.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:29 pmlongest serving, i guess
November 27th, 2006 at 12:32 pmWORST, definitely!
For all the years spent in many administrations, this psych will have absolutely to show for it except his legacy – “booted by bushco”!
November 27th, 2006 at 12:32 pmStay the failure with a man who has failed with great distinction.
Rumsfeld should be run out of town with pitchforks and torches.
That’s one of my known knowns.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:33 pmHe should have been the shortest-serving defense secretary…
November 27th, 2006 at 12:34 pmThat will make great headlines for the American people on that day. I hope there is a nice fat picture of the Prez and Rummy smiling and shaking hands about this “achievement”. He was the longest seving and the worst that I can remember. They keep throwing fuel on themselves as they are burning.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:35 pmIt took Robert McNamara, former Secretary of Defense under LBJ, about thirty years to admit that it was a mistake for the U.S. to have pursued a belligerent foreign policy in Vietnam. Will the U.S. and the world have to wait until Rumsfeld hits the century mark before he, Rumsfeld, decides to issue his mea culpa to the victims of those who had paid the price for his misguided decisions in Iraq?
November 27th, 2006 at 12:36 pmAnd the country collectively moans its disgust.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:39 pmGWB is only reinforcing his connection and responsibility for the worst Sec Def ever.
Works for me…
November 27th, 2006 at 12:41 pmThat’s fine with me. This will just make him and all the neocons even more memorable as a complete failure and disaster for this country.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:42 pmThis will just make Bush look like even more of an idiot than he already does… the Worst President EVER keeping on the Worst Sec.Def. EVER, longer than any defense secretary before him… It just illustrates how incompetent these people are.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:43 pmWhat an absolutely pointless jesture. Congrats, Rummy! You’re the longest serving Defense Secretary; you also happen to be the worst so enjoy!
November 27th, 2006 at 12:50 pmAmerica’s Least Wanted
Everything these frickin’ jerks do is about PR.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:51 pmPlease get rid of him before he continues to kill more troops and the Iraqis. Please. Throw him out today. Right now.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:53 pmHas Gates been confirmed already?
November 27th, 2006 at 12:54 pmField Marshal von Rumsfeld is longest-serving Defense Secretary whose greatest contribution to war strategy is now being repudiated by the same Army he governs.
Army gives Rumsfeld Doctrine a rewrite
The ‘07 manual puts greater value on maintaining stability than on swift action.
By Julian E. Barnes, Times Staff Writer
November 20, 2006
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld may be leaving under a cloud of criticism over his handling of the Iraq war, but his invasion plan — emphasizing speed over massive troop numbers — has consistently been held up as a resounding success.
Yet with Iraq near chaos 3 1/2 years later, a key Army manual now is being rewritten in a way that rejects the Rumsfeld doctrine and counsels against using it again.
November 27th, 2006 at 12:59 pmJust looked it up and saw Gates is yet to be confirmed but the paragraph above kind of seems to have him confirmed already.
November 27th, 2006 at 1:01 pmGates appears to be a shoo-in, Iran-Contra or no…
November 27th, 2006 at 1:33 pmBush has never worked a real job in his life. He doesn’t know what it means to work. He is a man of zero personal accomplishments, and doesn’t understand what it means to accomplish anything. So it is isn’t surprising to me that his idea of a job accomplishment is something arbitrary like how many days served, without any regard to the quality of service. Bush truly is an imbecile, with the mental development of a socially immature 16 year old boy of below average intelligence.
November 27th, 2006 at 1:37 pmPresident George W. Bush has decided to wait until after Dec. 29 ‘as a personal gesture to Rumsfeld.’†On that date Rumsfeld would become the longest-serving Defense secretary.
And with a record of incompetance that will last for centuries.
In the year 2220, history students will write essays comparing and contrasting Rummy with McClellan, McNamara, and Custer.
November 27th, 2006 at 1:49 pmThat’s what Bushie likes: extremes.
November 27th, 2006 at 2:05 pmWorst SecDef AND the longest serving.
Worst Prez in history.
Now he can be a “heck of ah longest sitting secretary”, and you know what that conjures up. Dig out the freedom metals.
November 27th, 2006 at 2:13 pmPolish up the next Medal of Freedom
November 27th, 2006 at 2:17 pmIf there was ever any doubt that George Bush has the intellect of a child, there can be no doubt after this.
This is akin to the opposition in a basketball game, with nothing to gain, allowing a player from the other team score unmolested points in order to set a record. It is stupid, unfair and pointless.
Actually, this has been done on a basketball court but the record was disallowed. Let’s disallow Bush this idiotic record and IMPEACH him now.
What a pecker-head.
November 27th, 2006 at 2:21 pmOT, but slightly connected…
November 27th, 2006 at 2:26 pmCheney & Brownback both have stated that Obama appears to be a bright young Senator, but sorely lacks the experience to be President.
Dick, Sam…
What were ‘W’s’ qualifiers?
Running businesses into the ground?
Avoiding service in ‘Nam?
Governor of Texas through the backdoor?
Christ, Obama hasn’t even declared yet, but they’re already spinning his shortcomings, trying to instill doubt in the ‘08 vote.
4 years (’08) of Senatorial service far outweights Bush’s experience.
Folks, remember this when the topic arrives…it will, you know.
On topic,
Rummy, a ‘known known’, has an ‘unkown’ future. Kissing Saudi ass, however, will probably lead to a well paid job in the private sector.
Bush was against getting rid of Rumsfeld before he was for getting Rumsfeld before he was against getting rid of Rumsfeld.
November 27th, 2006 at 2:28 pmWhen you absolutely, positively, have to be sure you’ve worn out your welcome…
November 27th, 2006 at 3:25 pmSeems to me that this whole confirmation of Gates bit is being rushed, and the Dems are being stampeded again. There IS a Deputy Sec. of Defense who has full authority of the SecDef if that office is vacant. There IS NO NEED to confirm Gates (or anyone) now or even in the next couple of months. Gates is a questionable nominee at best, with his CIA history and connection to Iran/Contra. On top of that, a “past” committee member of the Iraq Study Group…do you think it was an accident that he was nominated? I, personally, would support Colin Powell. He’s past his “good soldier” bullshit, and the man has combat experience. Just think about the SecDefs that both Bush’s appointed: Cheney and then Rumsfeld. Cheney, with his five differments during Vietnam and Rumsfeld, who was a Navy flight instructor during the 50’s and also never saw combat.
November 27th, 2006 at 3:38 pmWorst. Defense Secretary. Ever.
November 27th, 2006 at 3:50 pmHow many times have we had to say that Rumsfeld has no exit strategy – now, obviously, not even for himself!?
November 27th, 2006 at 3:52 pmIsn’t it special that Bush will let Rummy stay on so to set a record – as if that makes any difference to anything except Bush the scorekeeper. See, Bush really does have compassion – not.
November 27th, 2006 at 5:49 pmHahaha, completely ignoring that he is incompentent and a nutcase.
November 28th, 2006 at 11:01 pm